I had a quick National Anthem gig for the Aces, but I was double booked. They could be there. I couldn’t.
What a great opportunity! A National Anthem performance is the perfect first chance to practice singing without your conductor, for leadership to step up.
It’s low-stakes! (The crowd for a wrestling match isn’t holding the same expectations as your audience for a spring concert.)
It’s quick! (2 minutes. Done.)
It’s familiar. (The Star Spangled Banner is one of the first pieces we master in the year, so that it’s available for just these sorts of opportunities.)
My goal is to get my students ready to sing without me in front of them. Finding small opportunities like this to move them down this road is key.